Drinking straw and tone generator



Aug- 1968 H. K. STOESSEL ETAL 3,398,624

DRINKING STRAW AND TONE GENERATOR Fi led Oct. 22, 1965 JfTORA E'V 3,398,624 Patented Aug. 27, 1968 United S ate, Pam

ABSTRACT "be nfscLosnR A combined drinking straw anditone jgenei'atolrl comprising a resilient plastic tube member open at both ends and including an ntsr 1=, e eaa n ree orp od sin a tone, the reed being disposed sufliciently close to one end of the tube'tot'perini't' the reedand the one end to be encompassed within the mouth when the device is used as a straw.

This invention relates to a combined drinking straw and tone generator.

More particularly, this invention relates to an inexpensive drinking straw which may be used, in addition, as a musical instrument for generating one or more predeterr'nined musical notes.

This invention further relates to a novel method of making the previously described apparatus.

More particularly, this invention relates to a combined straw and musical instrument which is very inexpensive to manufacture and, therefore, is susceptible of use as a premium or giveaway item.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a combined drinking straw and musical tone generator.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a plastic straw and tone generator of such inexpensive construction as to be susceptible of being a throw-away item.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class described wherein a plastic straw is formed with an integral reed and one or more resonance varying apertures, to permit the user to play a plurality of musical notes.

Still a further object of the invention is the provision of a method of forming a device of the class described.

To attain these objects and such further objects as may appear herein or be hereinafter pointed out, we make reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view of still a further embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on the line 4--4 of FIGURE 3.

In accordance with the invention, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a combined tone generator and straw comprising a body portion 10 made of a relatively stiff, resiliant plastic material such as exemplified by styrene. While styrene is a preferred material from which the straw may be made, it will 'be readily understood that other materials may be suitable for use in this device, the distinguishing characteristics for material susceptible of such use being stiifness, high resiliency and non-solubility in fluids normally imbibed through straws.

The thickness of the body portion, where styrene is employed as the fabricating material, is preferably in the range of about .008" to about .014" for a straw of overall outside diameter of about A".

In accordance with the invention, there is formed in the tubular body portion a resonator reed 11, the reed 11 being preferably formed sufliciently close to the end 12 of the straw which is to be placed in themouth of the user that the entirety of the "reed can be comfortably accommodated within the-mouth.

In practice, it is preferred that the furthest por'tionof the reed 11 from the end'12 bedisposednot more than about 1 2" from the end. The reed is preferably generally triangular or tongue shaped in plan, and is integrally formed from the body portion 10, the reed 1 1 beingjoined {to the-body portion at aJ" base connection 13 running substantially normal to the longitudinal axis ofthe straw. The reed'll is outwardly deflected and projects beyond the surfaceof the'body portion 10.

We have determined that thedevice of the invention can beconveniently manufactured by'forining' the body of the tube from 'an initially flat Web which is subsequently stressed into a cylinder, rather than, for instance, being initially extruded in cylindrical form.

The slits defining the reed may be formed either before or after stressing the web into cylindrical conformation. We have discovered that by this method, a greater tension is set up in the body of the cylinder than in the isolated portion defining the reed. Accordingly, we have discovered that the less stressed reed assumes an arcuate configuration having a radius of curvature greater than that of the stressed body portion and, thus, automatically is out wardly deflected from the body portion. Moreover, since the root or base 13 of the reed is under greater stress than the free end of the reed, the reed assumes a progressively outwardly inclined attitude with respect to the body portion, which attitude has been found highly desirable in the creation of musical tones.

In utilizing a styrene plastic tube of the dimensions set forth above, we have determined that preferred dimensions for the reed may vary between about to in length and that the length of the reed should be at least about twice as great as the width of the base of the reed.

In practice, and again referring back to the initial dimensions noted, a reed of about V2" in length and about A" in width at its base will produce a musical note in the range of about 600 to 800 cycles.

A tone generator in accordance with FIGURE 1 is used by placing the end 12 of the straw in the mouth sufficiently far so that the reed 11 and the aperture 14 defined by the formation are contained entirely within the month. When the lips are closed about the body of the straw, exhaling into the end 12 will produce a musical note, the amplitude of which will vary, of course, in accordance with the pressure exerted by the user.

A straw, when used for purposes of imbibing liquids is, of course, placed in the mouth in the same manner noted, with the opposite end 15 below the surface of the liquid.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 2, wherein like parts have been given like reference numbers, the reed 11' has been formed in the opposite direction from that shown in FIGURE 1-that is, the apex of the reed is directed toward the end 12 of the straw. Additionally, one or more resonator apertures 16 have been formed generally adjacent the end 15'. It will be appreciated that by covering one or more of the apertures, various tones may be produced.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown a still further embodiment of the invention wherein the end 12" has been closed, as by heat sealing. The sealing of the end 12" has been found to create, in the area between the reed 11" and the end 12", a resonator chamber which forms a more satisfactory tone generator.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, of course, all liquids imbibed through the straw must pass through the aperture 14" defined by the formation of the reed.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 3, there maybe formed,

if;de tre haperture cllfifi sound produced. m

From the foregoing it wi1l'- be recognized that we have provided an integral, inexpensive and easilymanufactured touegeneratordevice. which is also useful, as, astraw. As the devicemay be. readily mass produced from inexpensive'materials, it is particularly suitable for use asja give away orpremium-it m. I I

Having, thus described, the

use, hat we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters .lfatent is:

1 1, A com-bined drinking straw and tone generate reamprising a stiff,- \hollow, cylindrical plastic. tube open at bothends, of wall fthickness in the range of aboutfl0Q8 to about ..14 a reed of generally triangular conformation integrally formed from said tube, said reed being disposed sufiiciently close togne end thereof, to be capable of being entirely encompassed within the mouth of the user, said .reed being arcuate in cross section, the radius-of curvature spurmscs r y nglthes.

invention and illustrated its said aperture. H v H wReferences.Cited, v

fiQRElG N PATENTS 322,719 Germany. I l I i 3265 Game? 7 RiI CHA RD B. wrLKrNsou'rr'imar' Examiner. GARY PQLUMBUSQAssiStant Exizmirier. 

